First time visitors

We advise you read this guide before coming to the lab. If you want to ask a question, please drop an email to [email protected].

Please arrive to your booking on time. Can’t make it or want to reschedule? Please let us know ASAP at [email protected] or press the cancel link in your booking confirmation.

How to book

Booking is as simple as choosing the devices you want from the homepage. Use filters and searching to get the select the devices you want (max 10), then press ‘Book the lab’ in the top right. It’ll whisk you to the booking page. We’re trialing this method of booking and we’d love to hear your feedback.

If you’d prefer to not use this system, you can book the lab using the Book button and manually type the devices you’d like.

Selecting your devices

If you need more than 10 devices or want to chat about what devices you think might be best for your needs, just drop us a line at [email protected]. We’ll happily help you.

If you’re making a website, look at the top mobile usage in the countries it’ll be used in. If the website already exists, use Analytics data to determine the top devices. This can help you test on the devices you know are being used the most and make the best use of your time.

How it works

Before you turn up, we’ll have organised the devices ready for you. Thanks to the details you filled out on your booking form, we already know what devices you’d like, so they should be ready waiting for you.

If between now and your booking you decide you need another device, let us know ASAP so we can get it charged – we do not keep all the devices charged at all times.

If you’re new to the lab, we’ll be happy to give you a primer – how it works and how to use tools to help with your testing.

After that, you’re on your own – we’ll leave you to it and won’t disturb you. If you need another device, ask us and we’ll retrieve it for you. If you need to install a different browser or app on a device, just ask us. Ideally, let us know before you arrive and it’ll be ready.

Planning Ahead

Decide what you’re testing on now and have a plan in place. We suggest bringing along one or more laptop(s) to make quick fixes to your product and prioritise ‘fix now’ easy fixes and ‘fix later’ fixes.

During your booking

All devices are your responsibility while they are checked out in your booked session. Very few of the devices are ours – the ODL runs on donations, so show the devices even more respect than you would show your own.

If a device comes back damaged or bricked it will be expected that you will replace it. Some of the devices are rare or impossible to get in the UK, so you don’t want that headache. Treat them well and if you’re unsure about what you’re doing then just ask.

At the end of your booking

All devices will need to be returned and checked-in before you leave.

Cleaning Up

Please keep the ODL clean. Leave it how you’d like to find it. You can, for now, eat/drink in the ODL. However, use common sense – don’t eat near the devices.

Privacy Concerns

We understand that you may be testing websites, products, or apps that you may wish to keep secret. We will not sign NDAs – however, we respect your privacy and we won’t care what you’re testing – we have work to do and won’t sit around watching you. In return, we won’t make you sign NDAs for coming in our office.

The lab’s walls are made out of glass, so we can see in and you can see out. The main screen in the lab is fairly visible – it is understandable if you don’t want to use this. If you bring your own laptop and happen to have a Creative Cloud subscription, you have Adobe Edge Inspect already, so you can run it from your laptop and people outside of the lab can’t see what you’re testing.

It is your responsibility to clear the history/cache/cookies/apps of the browsers/devices you use. We regularly clear them out, but if you consider your work incredibly sensitive or private, you must take responsibility of clearing the history/caches/cookies/apps. Please do not wipe a device entirely – we’re happy to do this but give us a heads up.